HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
387 
showed every disposition to support the Missionaries in 
their labours; and at a kabary held by him on the 18th of 
February, he delivered an address in the king’s name to 
the parents of the scholars, and to the head people of the 
districts where schools were established. “ The Mission¬ 
aries,” said he in this address, “ have left their own country, 
their relations, and their friends, to come to you, and to 
instruct you and your children; and in the discharge of 
this benevolent work, some of them have fallen.” Then, 
pointing to the Missionary burial-ground, tc And there,” he 
added, “ yonder is the spot where the bones of several of 
them are laid, far from the graves of their fathers; and 
this is a proof of what I have told you respecting them. 
Take care, therefore, that the children attend properly. 
Those who are the most advanced, may now leave the 
schools; but let them still attend on Sundays, and at the 
monthly examinations, lest they should forget what they 
have learned.”—It may here be added, that this plan was 
strictly enforced by Radama, with this condition, that if 
the dismissed scholars were found to have forgotten their 
former lessons, they should re-enter the schools, and again 
submit themselves to tuition. 
In the month of September, this year, 1827, the Mission¬ 
aries had the pleasure of welcoming to a share in their 
toils and their pleasures, the Rev. J. J. Freeman, who had 
dissolved his ministerial connexion with the church and 
congregation at Kidderminster, for the sake of devoting his 
life to the moral and spiritual welfare of the Malagasy. 
Mr. Freeman, with his wife and family, were accompanied 
by Mr. and Mrs. Canham, Mr. C. having been on a visit to 
England. At Tamatave, Mr. Freeman had been welcomed 
by Radama, who was on the coast at the time of his arrival, 
and who, it was expected, would shortly proceed to the 
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